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  Books. Change. Lives.

  Copyright © 2021 by Cindi Madsen

  Cover and internal design © 2021 by Sourcebooks

  Cover design by Stephanie Gafron/Sourcebooks

  Cover images © shaunl/Getty Images, Patrick Jennings/Shutterstock, Ton Anurak/Shutterstock

  Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  All brand names and product names used in this book are trademarks, registered trademarks, or trade names of their respective holders. Sourcebooks is not associated with any product or vendor in this book.

  Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks

  P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567-4410

  (630) 961-3900

  sourcebooks.com

  Contents

  Front Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Excerpt of A Cowboy Never Quits

  Chapter 1

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Back Cover

  To those who give hope, security, and love,

  especially to children who need it most.

  Chapter 1

  A package from FedEx was rare around these parts, since most people in Silver Springs, Colorado, adored the postman they’d had going on forty years and thought any other delivery method was akin to treason.

  Didn’t matter that Gerald’s eyesight was going or that he often mixed up addresses and delivered the wrong mail to the wrong people. Which was why Tanya had been so adamant about using another shipping method. Even in the privacy of her own bedroom, merely placing the order had caused her face to grow too hot. If one of the busybodies in town accidentally ended up with her package, she’d never hear the end of it. Especially since no one around these parts could keep a secret.

  Tanya’s heart pumped double time, and she barely refrained from snatching the large padded envelope out of the flustered-looking FedEx driver’s hands. A jingling bell filled the air as Winston, the three-legged goat Tanya had recently nursed back to health, hobbled over to see what was going on.

  The FedEx driver read off her name and, at Tanya’s nod, finally extended the parcel her way. “This place wasn’t easy to find.”

  “Real sorry about that,” she said, more to be polite, since being off the beaten path was pretty much the point of Bullhead Valley Dude Ranch. Admittedly, she was also distracted, her mind preoccupied with the contents of the envelope and keeping Winston from nibbling on the corner. Thanks to the peg leg she’d fashioned, the lopsided goat could get around well enough, and he mostly used his newfound mobility to eat things he wasn’t supposed to.

  After she informed the delivery guy that no, there wasn’t an easier way back to the main road, he left, and a hesitant sort of excitement rose. Tanya had learned to manage her hopes and expectations, but there was also that saying about desperate times and desperate measures. Unfortunately, that term fit her all too well lately, so this summer, she’d resolved to take back the reins on her own life.

  She did a quick scan to confirm she was still alone. Between the guests and the staff, solitude was a rarity on the dude ranch. A family of five had checked out shortly before the FedEx truck had arrived; there would be a new group arriving for a corporate retreat momentarily; and then there was the big-shot CEO who’d booked a cabin for the entire month, starting this evening. Apparently, he’d inherited some land and was thinking of getting into the ranching biz. The guy would undoubtedly change his mind once he discovered visiting a ranch and running one were two very different things. Seeing as how he was willing to pay for the full Cowboy Up package, far be it from her to discourage him from learning that lesson the hard way.

  With the coast clear, Tanya lowered herself onto a nearby tree stump. “Shall we have a look?” she asked Winston as she ripped open the envelope. The cardboard tab fluttered in the early-morning breeze, and a stray red curl stuck to her lip gloss. Usually, she wore her hair up and didn’t bother with makeup, but these days, she was making more of an effort.

  Because she’d lost her mind, as the book she withdrew from the envelope confirmed.

  How to Land Your Dream Guy: Tips from Today’s Top Dating Expert.

  A mixture of embarrassment and anticipation whirled through her as she cracked open the spine. She skimmed the intro, since she’d already read it online, and flipped to the first chapter—“Know What You Want.”

  Well, that was easy. Tanya continually found herself wanting the one thing she shouldn’t—her best and oldest friend, who happened to be her neighbor to the east. Butterflies took flight in her gut as she recalled Brady Dawson’s scruffy face and the way his lazy, crooked smile spread across it. Then the groove in his cheek would appear, a perfect little accent she’d been tempted to run her finger over the past couple of months.

  Okay, fine. It’d been closer to four months, maybe five. At first, she’d been sure it was some kind of delusional phase, mostly due to the shortage of eligible men and having no time for a social life. After all, she and Brady had sworn long ago never to let anything ruin their friendship. They’d seen it time and time again in their small town. Two people crossed the line, only for friendship to turn to hate.

  But they were different, right?

  They had to be, because the desire that arose every time Tanya was around her best friend wasn’t going away. Now she needed to figure out how to get Brady to see her as a viable option. If she managed that, it’d eliminate at least some of the risk so she could broach the subject of crossing lines. Although if she thought too much about confessing her feelings, she was seriously going to puke, so one step at a time.

  The screen door to the main cabin where she and her parents lived screeched open, and Tanya slammed the book closed, jammed it into the envelope, and tucked it behind her back. If Mom so much as caught a glimpse, she’d do a praise-the-Lord dance
before pointing out the dating tips she thought Tanya should pay extra attention to. Namely any that highlighted acting more like a lady.

  “Mornin’,” Mom said, squinting against the early-morning rays as she held the steaming cup of coffee in her hands. “Did the Crawfords already check out?”

  As if he assumed Mom meant the question for him, Winston let out a loud bleat. His buck teeth gave him a perpetual grin, and affection flooded Tanya as she petted his furry head. “They hit the road right as the sun was rising. They also left their regards and wanted me to tell you how much they enjoyed their stay.”

  “Good, good.”

  Winston twisted his head so Tanya could give the underside of his chin attention. Due to her rep as the bleeding heart of the county when it came to animals, she’d gotten a call saying the goat’s previous owners were going to put him down in favor of amputating his leg and ended up driving over an hour to rescue him. In spite of Tanya footing the hefty vet bill herself, Pops had been upset she hadn’t asked before bringing Winston to the dude ranch. Luckily, the goat was a hit with the guests, although Pops made her promise to rehome him once he was fully healed.

  In her mind, “fully healed” meant until his leg grew back—so never. “Ready to go clean up a cabin? No eating the pillowcases this time, though. In fact, it’s probably for the best if you stay outside.”

  “You let him inside the cabins?” Mom asked, exasperation lighting the green eyes Tanya had inherited from her.

  Considering she did the majority of the cleaning, Tanya figured it wasn’t a big deal as long as the end result was the same. Good thing her parents hadn’t caught her sneaking Winston inside her bedroom when he’d first arrived, leaving her feeling like the rebellious teenager her parents had often accused her of being. “Er, I mean you have to stay outside like you always do.”

  Tanya rubbed the goat’s fuzzy ear, her voice more on the cooing than reprimanding side. “Shame on you for even asking, Winston.”

  Pops stepped out of the house, and Tanya crossed her fingers he hadn’t heard the conversation and that Mom wouldn’t go and enlighten him. Eventually, she and her parents would inevitably butt heads over Winston staying for good, but she’d point out how much she enjoyed having him tag along as she went about her chores and how good he was with the horses and guests, and fingers crossed, Pops would give in. “What’s everyone standin’ around for? We’re burning daylight.”

  It was the mantra she’d awoken to at 7:00 a.m. countless times throughout the years. Dad was gruff, didn’t show any “mushy emotions,” and ran things the old-school way. The cowboy way, as he referred to it, and Tanya had been around cowboys enough to know it held true. Even Brady kept most things surface level. Frustration bubbled up, as it often did when Pops acted like she required micromanaging. No matter how hard she worked to prove she’d come a long way in her twenty-nine years, he’d always see her as the rash and slightly wild girl she’d been in high school.

  When Mom had been justifiably worried Pops would work himself into an early grave, Tanya gave up the remainder of her hard-earned scholarship and returned home to help keep the dude ranch running. Sometimes she wondered what would’ve happened if she had stayed for the four years she’d planned on, but it didn’t much matter in the long run. Although a part of her still couldn’t stop searching for what she wanted to be when she grew up, Silver Springs offered the secure, logical path. Not only was it her home, but Brady was here.

  Tingles coursed over her skin as she tucked the envelope containing her new handbook under her arm and stood. As soon as she’d cleaned Cabin Three and made it guest-ready, she planned on diving into the book’s pages and formulating a game plan. The local rodeo was at the end of the month, and in addition to the main events, she and Brady always had side competitions going. They talked trash about who was going to place higher, who’d earn the fastest times, and how the team at the dude ranch would totally beat the staff at Turn Around Ranch.

  And this year, she’d be embroiled in another lofty battle. A secret one that involved winning over her best friend’s heart.

  * * *

  Brady urged the sorrel horse underneath him to go faster as he raced toward the pond and copse of trees that marked the halfway point between his family’s ranch and the Bullhead Valley Dude Ranch. It’d been his and Tanya’s spot since they were old enough to leave the house unsupervised. Anytime he or the cowgirl next door texted to say they needed a meetup, both of them would do whatever it took to sneak away.

  He’d been wrapping up riding lessons for the day and texted Tanya to ask if she could get away for a few minutes. He figured they’d set a time within the next hour or so, but she’d taken it to the next level with her “Beat you there” reply.

  One of the best things about Tanya was that she enjoyed a challenge as much as he did. These days, that mostly meant working with the at-risk youth in the Turn Around Ranch program. Don’t get him wrong, he loved his job, and watching the teens grow was super satisfying, but ever since he’d decreased the number of rodeos he competed in, he’d been missing this particular brand of adrenaline.

  Two distinct profiles materialized in the distance, and Brady cursed himself for not taking the time to saddle up CJ, his buckskin gelding. Poor Bud was getting on in years, which made him perfect for first-time riders. Not so great for racing.

  While Brady and his rusty steed drew closer to the gnarled old cottonwood, Diesel and Tanya were coming fast, her red hair flying behind her like a flickering flame. Funny how a friendship so blissfully uncomplicated could push him so hard. It was one of many reasons they’d trained for rodeos together and what had inspired him to put a new spin on this year’s local event.

  “Come on, Bud,” Brady said with a click of his tongue. “Just another fifty yards to an all-you-can-graze buffet.” The horse snorted and elongated his stride. Excitement zipped up Brady’s spine as he leaned over the gelding’s reddish-brown neck, making himself as aerodynamic as possible.

  Almost…

  Brady swore as Tanya pulled her dark paint horse to a stop at the exact halfway spot—an oft-debated topic when they were kids. Dust clouds coated the air as Bud skidded to a stop, his white and pink nose nearly bopping Diesel’s black one.

  Before Brady could so much as get a word out, Tanya dismounted and began to celebrate her victory. “In case you didn’t notice, I won. Oh yeah, oh yeah.” Her dance moves were exaggerated and sloppy, her hips swaying from side to side—no music and she still couldn’t keep a beat.

  “Let me get this straight…” Brady gripped the saddle horn and swung himself off Bud, the leather creaking as he did so. “You rode your rodeo-trained horse while I plodded over here on the old nag we use to train nervous Nellies to ride. Real fair odds right there.”

  Tanya jabbed a finger to his chest. “It’s not my fault you brought the wrong horse. Besides, where’s the cocky cowboy I grew up with?” She lifted her head higher, a stripe of sunlight illuminating her green eyes. “The one who’d tell people he’d beat them, no matter the course or the horse?”

  “Oh, he’s right here. He’s just also smart enough to realize that when it comes to you, he needs all the edge he can get.” Brady tugged one of her windblown curls, warmth winding through him as her familiar smile curved her lips—although the bright shade of pink was new. “And maybe he’s getting old but doesn’t want to mention it.”

  Tanya made an offended noise in the back of her throat. “He is not. Because that would mean I am, too, and that’s absolutely not true.”

  After looping Bud’s reins over a low branch, Brady patted the horse’s flank. “True. All the same, I’m getting ready to pass the torch. The Silver Springs Rodeo is gonna be Aiden’s first official competition, and he’s been borrowing my horse while his gains the necessary experience. Before you know it, I’ll be left with slow-and-steady Bud for good.”

  “Excuses,
excuses,” Tanya said, shaking her head and clicking her tongue. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re already waving the white flag on this year’s side competition.”

  “Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you? Unfortunately for you, the reason I called you here is to inform you that I’m planning on takin’ things to the next level.” Brady eyed the pond, thinking a dip might be nice about now. “Wanna go for a swim while we discuss it?”

  Tanya’s eyes went wide, and while he didn’t completely understand why, he got the message loud and clear that she’d rather not jump in the cool water. Come to think of it, in addition to the makeup on her lips and eyelids, her hair was all done up, sleek curls in place of her usual messy ponytail. “You got somewhere else to be this evening? I guess I should’ve asked how long you’ve got.”

  “No. I mean yes.” She blew out a breath. “Time’s not real pressin’, but that CEO who’s gonna shadow me all month is set to arrive in about an hour, and I figured I’d try to make a good impression. You never can resist dunking me, and ‘drowned rat’ isn’t an easy look to pull off.”

  For reasons he couldn’t exactly put his finger on, her answer grated on his nerves. Why would she put on airs for some city slicker? Not that Brady paid much attention, but she’d never dressed up for one of her guests before.

  Had she?

  And since when did she care if her hair got messed up? Half the time, she initiated the water fights that led to him dunking her. She’d come up for air, slapping water at him and cursing him out for being bigger and stronger—not that she’d ever say it that way. She’d make an excuse about not being ready or that she’d slipped on a mossy rock.

  Maybe that was it. She must want a more level playing field as they tossed their dare-filled gauntlet.

  “How about we shoot instead?” Tanya opened the bag of tricks at the base of the cottonwood tree that was technically more of a crudely built box and lifted out their bows and quivers of arrows.

  Since they often came on horseback, they’d stashed the essentials. In addition to the archery equipment, there were fishing poles, a tackle box, and snacks that were likely past their prime. Not that he was one to talk, since he’d recently begun to feel he was past his, too.